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Olivia collapsed into a soft chair. “Of course not. You can stay as long as you like.”
“Thanks, sister. I couldn’t stay with Mom since Horrible Horace and I don’t get along.”
“Does the parrot still freak you out?”
“Yes!” Lucy filled their coffee cups. “I’m sorry, but that animal has no manners and says the most horrifying things. Every time I see him, his beady eyes follow me as he squawks profanities.”
“That bird sure can throw a lot of judgment for such a small animal. It usually curses me out whenever I stay for more than an hour.”
Lucy pushed the sugar in Olivia’s direction. “I still don’t know why Mom decided that rescuing the animal was necessary.”
“Elaine Bennett has the biggest, softest heart, and there was no way she would let that bird be put down or sent to the glue factory.”
“I know, and please don’t rat me out if that bird eventually disappears under questionable circumstances.”
“If you spill the delicious details of whatever is going on with you and Linc, then I promise to look the other way when feathers fly.”
Lifting a cinnamon roll, Lucy frowned. “Nothing to tell.”
“A lie if ever there was one.” Olivia pinched off a piece and slid it into her mouth. “But I can see you’re not ready to discuss it, so I will wait patiently.”
“Thank you,” Lucy replied quietly. “I’m hoping that if I ignore him, he’ll simply disappear and take whatever black magic he possesses with him.”
“After he fixes the pipes in the bookstore.”
“Yes, after that.” Lucy pushed her plate away. “And what is your plan for the recluse at the end of the lane?”
“I may take a page from your book and see what happens.”
“And here I thought he had you properly sexed-up and contented as a kitten.”
Olivia let out a sigh. “Zane is minutes away from delivering some sort ofit’s not you, it’s mespeech.”
“The state of your bedroom and, if I’m not mistaken, your heart, notwithstanding.”
“A mere pit-stop on the road to disaster.”
“I don’t like this new you.” Lucy pinched her mouth together. “I much prefer your rainbows and happy puppy approach to life. All this doom and gloom doesn’t suit you one bit. That’s our baby sister’s groove, not yours.”
“Seems Zane is inspiring a new point of view.”
“If Mom or Grams were here, they’d have something wise and prophetic to say—a metaphor about new love and old pain.”
“They’d tell me I’m not afraid of new love but old pain.”
“And are you?” Lucy asked. “Afraid of giving Zane something you can’t afford to risk a second time?”
“Probably. But I’m going to hunker down behind my emotional walls, invite denial over, and see if I can hide from the truth for a bit longer.” She folded her legs and leaned her head on her knees. “Why did I think that sexy times with Zane would be inconsequential?”
“You didn’t,” Lucy said quietly. “You merely decided that the reward of having even a small part of him outweighed the risk.” A concept that she wasn’t wholly opposed to despite all her declarations suggesting otherwise.
Olivia lifted her head. “You have to give me a little tidbit. Linc is the opposite of every man you’ve ever dated, and I’ve never seen you so out of sorts.” She leaned over and took her sister’s hand. “Tell me the truth, how tempted are you?”
“A lot more than I’m comfortable admitting.”
“Then we won’t discuss it further. Let’s both hang out with our new friend, denial and see how far it gets us.”
“And if that doesn’t work, we can always take a long road trip.”
